Engine-starter.



G. S. THOMPSON 81 F RICHARDSON.

I 'ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION r1150 MAY 29. 1913.

Patented June 13, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' f firroighns G. S; THOMPSON & C.' F. RICHARDSON. ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATIQN mp0 MAY29.1913.

1,186,956. Patented June 13, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. s. THOMPSON & o. F. RICHARDSON.

' ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1 913. v

Patented June 13, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- I IUIH w s 1 Win x Q I ix =0 Q R I "i MIN!" 1;] llwu ln -fiulwlg? WI" ME;

io m QR 1 'Q 1 Ml WIll" M I a Um I 'ul nw l 1 WITNESSES R1 I I BY iirirrnp s'ra'rns rn'rn orrron.

GEORGE S. THOMPSON, 0F J I-IOP KINTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AND CHAR-LES F. RICHARD- SON, OF WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THOMPSON ENGINE STARTER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ENGINE-STARTER.

ton, county of Middlesex, Massachusetts,

and vVoonsocket, county of Providence, Rhode Island, respectively have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Starters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention which constitutes the subject matter of this application relates to an automatic engine starter and while the embodiment of the invention herein described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings is specially designed for cranking the engine of an automobile, it will be obvious that the invention is not confined to this specific use.

Referring to the drawings which show one of the embodiments of our invention, Figure 1 is a view in perspective to show one convenient method of mounting the starter.

be readily seen from the-drawings, a part of this mechanism is mounted upon the crank shaft and the other part is mounted upon theengine supports 11- and located at one side of the engine 12 just under the bonnet (not shown), thus giving ready access to the various parts of the starter when desired. c

Preferably fixed upon the engine shaft 13 is a sprocket gear 14 over which a sprocket chain 15 of the silent type is adapted to operate, the latter in turn being connected to a gear 16 loosely encircling a rotatable power shaft 17 which is suitably 1ournaled in the housing 10., Mechanism operatively connected to the gear 16 is provided for automatically cranking the en-' gme and also mechanismfor restoring, in

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sec-' tional view of the starter mechanism. Fig.

Patented June '13, 1916.

Application filed May 29, 1913. Serial No. 770,621.

turn, power in the spring. We will now proceed to describe. in detail these respectiveuneans for cranking the engine and restormg power in the power spring.

Located in proximity to the gear 16 and rotating around the power shaft, 17 in unison therewith, is another gear 18. This gear 18 is riveted to or otherwise secured to gear 16 and so far as the cranking of the engine is concerned it performs no particular function but is essential in the restoration of power in the power spring. The gear 16 carries a plurality of spring pressed plungers or pawls 19 which are located in sockets 20, as clearly shown in Figs. 3' and 7. The pawls are preferably provided with cars 21 which slide in grooves 22 of said gear. These ears and grooves effectually prevent rotation of the plunger relative to said gear. The gear 18 is provided'with annular perforations 23 through which the rearward endof said plungers project. Located in the forward end of each of the sockets 20 is. a suitable spring 24 which has a tendency to urge the pawl rearwardly. This rearward movement of the pawl is'limited by the fact that one end of'the rib 21 comes into contact with the forwardside of the gear 18, it being understood that the pawl is so shaped at its rearward end as to effect a snug fit with the perforation in the gear 18. Itis to be understood that the construction of the gears 1618 and pawls I 19 which prevents the latter from'rotating relatively to the former is the one that is preferred, and? is here shown and described as one of the many constructions that may be resorted to in manufacturing our starter without departing from the true scopeof our invention.

Located upon'the power shaft 17 and fixed to rotate therewith is a clutch member 25 which is capable of longitudinal movement with respect to this shaft. 'This memher is provided with laterally projecting V ratchet teeth 26 which are adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the pawls 19, protrudingthrough gear 18,.whenever the said member is moved longitudinally upon said power shaft. Loosely mounted upon the power shaft is a worm wheel 27 provided with laterally projecting teeth 28 which are adapted to normally en gage corresponding sockets29 in the clutch 1 member, the said teeth and sockets eifecting is an interlocking engagement between the said worm'wh'eel and the said clutch member and sa d engagement being malntalned until one of said elements is moved relative to the, other. The rear end of the power shaft is connected to and is operated by the power spring For the sake of convenience, the part 310f the shaft to which the spring is connected, may be disconnectible from the main power shaft at the point 32.

' The clutch member is provided with a peripheral flange 83 adapted to be constantly engaged by a forked, member 34-having a groove 35'o'n the interior thereof which corresponds in shape to the shape of the peripheral flange This forked 'member is preferably fixed to a shaft 36, which is adapted to be moved longitudinally by means'ofa lever 37pivoted at'38 upon'the housing 10. A spring 39 is employed to hold thejupper end 'of-this lever in its forward position, which in turn serves to hold the clutch member normally in interlocking ,en

gagement with the worm wheel 27 asclearly illustrated in Fig. 3. To'the upper end of the lever 37 is connected a wire rope or the-pawls 41 are adapted to enter sockets 43 in the saijd' member 42,- but are normally held out of engagement therefrom, to permit cord 40 extending through thedashboard of the machine and there connected to suitable foot-operated mechanism for effecting a rearwardpull upon the lever 37.

As" before stated the sprocket gear 14 is loosely mounted upon the crank shaft 13. This gear" is provided with spring pressed plungers orfpawls 41 which are normally out of engagement'with the member 42 fixed uponthe crankshaft. The forward ends of the said member to rotate idly, by means of acamsleeve 44 provided with cam surfaces 45. Fixed to the frame and surroundmg thev crank shaft is an annular member 46 whose outer periphery is provided with 4 5" Q erate with the cam surfaces to move the with the sockets'48. "To the sleeve is secured a stud 48 which is connected with a lever 49 mounted upon a rock'shaft 50 by means of a link 51-, said lever and the said" 7 link "bfein'g' preferably located'within the is secured' an arm 52 provided with a stud 53 adapted toenga'ge behind shoulder a pl'rality'ofecam rollers 47 which coopsleeve longitudinally with respect to the fixed member42. doeswith' the forward ends of pawls 41, normallyholds the latter out of engagement housing 100. To one-end ofthe rock shaft 540m lever 55. ,When the. arm is moved so as tothrow the sprocket wheel into clutchupon mg engagementwith the fixed member the crankshaft, the lever 55 is cammed outwardly about its pivot 56and as soon as the ,said arm is moved sufiicientlyin that direc- :t1'onjby a suita-ble cord 57 'connected .to the 4 The sleeve,eng'aging as it foot operated means, the shoulder on the lever will drop behind the stud and prevent its return. \Vhen released, however, by mechanism to be described later, the spring 58 returns the said sleeve to normal position thusunclutching the member 42 from sprocket gear 14.

When the spring is wound up, let it be assumed that certain instrumentalities are clutch member are beginning to engage with the spring pressed pawls'19. Consequently, when the clutch member 25 is completely disengaged from the worm wheel 27, it is in effective operative engagement with gears 1618 and the power spring 31 now acts, throughthe power shaft and clutch member, to rotate the gears 1618 to crank the engine, thepower spring and gears 141 G being so constructed as to impart about eight revolutions to the, crank shaft in the operation of cranking the engine. The arm 52 is simultaneously actuated by means of the foot-operated mechanism to rotate the sleeve 44 and thus allow the spring pressed pawls to move the same forwardly which is permitted by means of the cam surfaces 45 and cam rollers 47 to effect an interlocking engagement between thepawls of the sprocket I gear 14 and the sockets in the fixed member 42, the parts being so constructed that this clutching engagement is effected before the member 25 is released from its engagement with the worm wheel 27. The link 51 is bifurcated as indicated at 49 and the projecting stud 48, mounted as it is upon the pivot is limited by the bifurcated arms 49. During the cranking of the engine the teeth on the clutch member 25 are held in engagemen-t with the pawls 19 by the turning force of the latter, or by continued tension on lever 87 by means of footpedal. But as soon as the engine is cranked the pawls, owing to their peculiar formation, run ahead of the teeth on the clutch member, thus permitting the latter of the spring 89 connected to lever 37, into interlocking engagement with worm wheel 27. Those parts that have not been previously described are now in position to effect a rewinding of the power spring.

Having "described the mechanism and the to be retrieved, by means operation thereof for cranking the engine,

we will now proceed to describe the mechanism associated with the aforesaid mechanism for the restoration. of power in the power spring. Suitably journaled in the housing 10 in proximity to and substantially parallel with the power shaft is a counter shaft 61 upon which is fixed a toothed gear 62 constantly in mesh with and actuated by the gear 18. Also fixed to this shaft is a spiral gear 63 meshing with a similar gear 64 fixed upon one end of the vertical shaft 65. This vertical shaft is suitably journal'ed in the housingand upon its other end is fixed the worm gear 66 which meshes with and operates the worm wheel 27 previously described. V

Assume for the moment that the parts are in interlocking engagement wit-h the fixed member 42, as above described, and that the engine is cranked; the operation of thev device in restoring energy in the power spring is .as follows: As before stated, the member 25, as soon as the engine has been cranked,

isretrieved from the sprocket gears 1618 and is brought again into interlocking engagement with the worm wheel 27 by means of the spring 39. A rotative movement is imparted to the fixed member 42 by means of the engine, which in turn operates the sprocket gears 14, 16-18 and toothed gear 62. upon the counter shaft 61 and as a result rotative movement is imparted to the latter. This rotative movement in turn transmits a rotative movement to the spiral gears 63, 64, worm gear 66, and worm wheel 27. The member 25 beingfixed upon the power shaft, a rotative movement is also imparted thereto to rewind the power spring, it being read ily understood from the above description that in cranking the engine the power shaft is rotated in one direction, while in restoring 7 energy in the power spring the power shaft is operated in the opposite direction.

The mechanism for efiecting a positive engagement between the sprocket gear 14 and the member 42has beenpreviously described. \Ve will. now proceed to describe an aute matie mea-ns for effecting a disengagement of said elements after sufficient energy has been stored in the power spring. The power shaft is provided with a screw-threaded portion 67 upon which a screw-threaded arm 68 is located and adapted to be moved longitudinally whenever the said shaft is operated in either direction. The normal position of the parts is indicated in Fig. 2. Aflexible connection 69 is provided between the lever 55 and the arm 68. Vhenthe foot mechanism is operated to release the power spring the pawl 53 simultaneously engages behind the shoulder 54 to effect a clutching engagement between the fixed member 42 and the sprocket gear 14. The power shaftthen be- The latter, as before stated, is fixed gins to rotateand moves the screw threaded arm 68 longitudinally in the direction indicated by the arrow a. The arm has a tendency, due. to friction, to rotate in the directionindicated by the arrow 7), but to avoid this a suitable stop 7 0 is employed. As soon as the engineis'cranked, or more accurately.

stated, as soon as the member 25 is again brought into clutching engagement with the worm wheel 27, the restoring operation begins. The power shaft is now being rotated in the opposite direction andithe arm 68 is 7 now moving in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow a. This movement of the arm continuesimtil the same has traveled to the ends of the threads and'fits the stud 71, which in the present instance will be accomplished by substantially eight revolutions of the power shaft. The arm will now be rotated in unison with the power'shaft and thus move the lever 55 by means of the.

the spring. As soon as the said fixed member is released from operative engagement with. the spring actuated mechanism after energy has been stored 1n the POWQF'SPIHIU- 1t Wlll be necessary to hold the said spring actuated mechanism against operation. This we accomplish by the arrangement of the] spiral gear and the worm gear on the vertical shaft 65, as it will be understood motion can be impartedtothe worm wheel 27 only,

by the rotation of the worm gear in mesh therewith. It will also be apparent that the pressure from the worm wheel upon the worm gear acts upon the threads of the latter at substantially right angles to the direction of the same. Consequently, there can be but little if any rotative movement acting upon the worm gear. If there be a rotative movement, it isso slight that its effect is m'Z.

It will therefore be seenthat we have eliminated the extraneous or rather the independent holding mechanism which is ordinarily used in engine starters. The worm wheel and worm gear have therefore a dual function, namely, to hold the spring actuated mechanism against rotation and to cooperate with other mechanism to store up energy in the power spring. This not only reduces the number of parts to a minimum, but also insures a better operation of the starter.

From the above description it will be ob'- served that after theengine is cranked and energy restored in the power spring the only 1.- part that operates, so long as the engine con- 1 tinues torun, isthe fixed member'42 on the engine shaft, but as this member is out of engagement with the other parts of the starter there can be no wear outside of that which occurs during the brief interval of f time required to crank the engine and restore energy in the power spring. The housing 100 which incloses the *mechanism on the engine shaft is'pr'eferably made fluid tight wherebythe parts may run in oil and'thus the wear, during the cranking and storing operations may be reducedas much as pos-s sible; 3

It'istobe understood that we do not limit "ourselves to the particular embodiment which we have chosen to illustrate as our 1nvent1on,.asit is perfectly ObVlOHS, lI1 the ligatcof the foregoing description taken in connection with the construction herein shown, that various other modifications may be resorted to and minor changes made without necessarily departing from the true spirit and scope of our invention.

Whatwe claim is:

1 'LIn an engine starter, an engine shaft,

ing a power shaft, a sprocket gear rotatably mounted upon said power shaft, means for operatively connecting said sprocket gears, clutch member irotatably fixed ,to said "power shaft but capable of longitudinal" movement thereon, the second mentioned sprocket gear and clutch i'member provided l with means'for effecting aninterlockin'g en- 7 40 -gagement beinveen the same as one is moved toward the other, means normally engaging 7 said last m'entioned clutch 'member to hold the latter stationary, andmechanism for moving the last mentioned clutch member 'outiof engagement with'the' last mentioned meansand into clutching engagement with the sprocket gear to crank the engine.

In anengine starter, an'fengine shaft,

a sprocketgear loosely mounted upon said engine shaft,a.clutch member fixed to said shaft and adapted to be operatively connected to said sprocket gear, in combination .with a, power shaft, a sprocket gear rota tably mounted-upon said power shaft, and means for operatively connecting the sprocket gearfon the'power shaft with the sprocket gearon theengine shaft; in combination with means for j rotating the sprocket gear on the power Shaft to crank the eng ne, said means comprising a clutch m ember' rotatably fixed to said power shaft "Jbut 1 c'apable pf longitudinal movement thereon, jmeans normally engaging said and means for moving 1 clutch member h tch member to hold, the same stationary,

longitudinally of said power shaft out of engagement with the last mentioned means into clutching engagement with the sprocket gear, whereby the power shaft is permitted to rotate the clutch member and sprocket gear thereon to crank the engine. r

3. In an engine starter, an engine shaft, a sprocket gear looselymounted upon said engine shaft, means for operatively connectingthe sprocket gear to the crank shaft, a power shaft, a sprocket gear mounted upon said power shaft, and means operatively connecting said sprocket gears; in combination with means for rotating said sprocket gear on the power shaft to crank the engine, said means comprising aclutch member rotatably fixed to said shaft but capable of longitudinal movement thereon, means normally engaging said clutch member to hold the same stationary, and means for moving the clutch member longitudinally of said shaft to release the same from said engaging means and to bring the same'into clutching engagement with the sprocket gear, said clutching engagement being established before the clutch member is released from its holding means, substantially as described.

4. In an engine starter, anengine shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted uponsaid engine shaft, ineansfor operatively con necting the sprocket gear with the engine shaft to crank the engine, a power shaft, a

sprocket gear mounted upon said power shaft, and means for operatively connecting said sprocket gears;in combination with means for actuating said sprocket gear on the" power shaft to crank the engine, said means comprising a clutch member rotatably fixed to said power shaft but capable of longitudinal movement thereon, means normally engaging said clutch mechanism to hold the same stationary, means for moving the clutch member longitudinally of said shaft to release the same from said engaging means and to bring the same into clutching engagement with the sprocket gear for rotating the latter to crank the engine, and means for automatically moving the clutch member in the opposite direction after a certain number of rotations of said sprocket gear to disengage the same from the sprocket gearand to cause the same to reengage the aforesaid holding means. a

5. In an engine starter, an engine'shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said engine shaft, means adapted to operatively connect the sprocket gear with the engine shaft when it is desired to crank the engine,

a power shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said power shaft, means for operatively connecting the said sprocket gears, and means for rotating the sprocket gear on the power shaft to crank the engine, said means comprising a clutch member rotatably fixed to said power shaft but cafrom said engagingmeans and to bring the same into clutching engagement with the sprocket gear to rotate the latter to crank the engine, and means for automatically returning the clutch member to normal position, in combination with means connected to and operated by said sprocket gear after the engine is cranked for rotating said clutch member to -restore energy in the power spring.

6. In an engine starter, an engine shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said engine shaft, and means adapted to operatively connect the sprocket gear with "the engine shaft, in combination with means for rotating said sprocket gear to crank the engine, said means comprising a spring actuated power shaft, a sprocket gear rotatably mounted upon said power shaft and operatively connected to the aforesaid sprocket gear, a clutch gear rotatably fixed to said power shaft but capable of longitudinal movement thereon, rotatable means normally engaging said clutch mechanism to hold the latter stationary, means for moving the said clutch mechanism out of engagement with the said rotatable means into clutch engagement with the sprocket gear on the power shaft whereby the said gear and the sprocket gear on the engine shaft are rotated to crank the engine, means for automatically returning the clutch member to normal position in engagement with said rotatable holding means, and means connected to and operated by the sprocket gear on the power shaft after the engine has been cranked for rotating said clutch member to restore energy in the power spring.

7. In a starting apparatus for'explosive engines, an engine shaft, a' sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said shaft, and means for operatively connecting the sprocket gear to the engine shaft, in combination with a power shaft operated by power means, a sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said power shaft and operatively connected to the aforesaid gear, means on said power shaft operated in one direction by the power means to rotate the sprocket gears to crank the engine, and mechanism connected to the sprocket gear on the powershaft and actuated by the said gear after the engine has been cranked for operating the aforesaid means in the opposite direction to store up energy in the power spring.

8. Ina starting apparatus for explosive engines, an engine shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said shaft, means for operatively connecting the sprocket gear with the engine shaft, a spring actuated power shaft, a sprocket gear mounted uponsaid power shaft and operatively connected to the gear with engine shaft; in combination with means actuated by the, said sprocket gear on the power shaft after the engines, an engine shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said engine shaft, means for operatively connecting the said gear with the engine shaft, a spring actuated power shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said power shaft, andmeans 'for operatively connecting the sprocket gears, in combination with means operatively connected to said sprocket gear onthe power shaft and actuated by the engine.

after the latter has been cranked to restore power in the power means, comprising a gear wheel rotatably mounted upon the power shaft, a clutch member fixed to said shaft and in interlocking engagement with the last mentioned gear, a counter shaft, a toothed gear fixed thereon and operatively connected'to the sprocket gear on the power shaft, and means operatively connecting said toothed gear and the said gear wheel.

1t). In astarting apparatus for explosivev engines, an engine shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said shaft, means for operatively connecting said gear with the engine shaft, a spring actuated power shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said power shaft, and means for operatively connecting the sprocket gears; in combination with means operatively connected to said sprocketgear on the power shaft and actuated by the engine after the latter has been cranked to restore power in the power means, comprising a gear wheel rotatably mounted upon the power shaft and normally in interlocking engagement with the last mentioned gear, a counter shaft locatedparallel and adjacent to the power shaft, a toothed gear fixed to said counter shaft, and. operatively connected to the sprocket gear on the power shaft, a spiral gear fixed to said counter shaft and operated thereby, a gear located upon a vertical shaft and meshing" with said spiral gear and operated by the latter, and aworm gear also on said vertical shaft and meshing with the worm gear on the power shaft for operating the latter.

engines,ean engine shaft, a sprocket' vgearloosely anounted upon said shaft, means '125 11. In a starting apparatus for explosive" I power means operatively connected to said sprocket gear forcranking the engine and mechanism associated with the aforesaid means and actuated by the engine after the latter has been cranked to restore power tate'said sprocketgears to crank the engine; and said restoring mechanism compr sing a gear wheel rotatably mounted "upon the power shaft and normally in engagement with the last mentioned means, a

counter shaft arranged adjacent to said power shaft, a toothed gear fixed on said i shaft and operatively connected'to the said sprocket gear, and means connected to said gear wheel, and actuated by said toothed gear, whereby the said gear wheel and the said means in normal engagement therewith are rotated by saidtoothed gear to restore energy'to the power means.

12, In a starting apparatus for explosive engines, an engine shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said shaft, means for operatively connecting the said gear with said engine shaft, and cranking means operatively connected to said sprocket gear, comprising a spring actuated power shaft, a's'procket gear rotatably mounted on said 1 power shaft, and means adapted to engage f crankthe engine, in combination with mechwith and rotate said sprocket gears to anism operated in "turn by the engine for ,restoring 'energy to the spring after the enginejhasbeen cranked, comprising a gear wheel rotatably mounted on the power shaft and normally in engagement with the last Ymentioned means, a counter shaft arranged adjacentto said power shaft, a toothed gear fixed thereon and operatively connected to the sprocket gearon the power shaft, and

means-operatively connecting said toothed [gear andsaid gear'wheel, whereby the latter and said means in normal engagement therewith are rotated by the former to res store energy the power means, I13. In a startingapparatus for explosive engines, an engine shaft, a sprocket gear 7 loosely mounted upon said shaft, means'for I operatively connecting isald .gear to said i connected tosaidsprocket gear, comprising f a spring actuated power shaft, a sprocket gear rotatably mounted upon said power en ine shaft cranking 'means 0 erativel b r 7 b.

shaft and operatively connectedto the aforesaid sprocket gear and a member slidably mounted upon and rotatably fixed to said power shaft, adapted to be brought into engagement with and to rotate said sprocket gears to crank the engine, in combination with mechanism operatediin turn by the engine for restoring energy in the spring after the engine has been cranked, comprising a counter shaft arranged adjacent to said power shaft, a toothed gearfixed thereon and operativelyconnected to said sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said shaft, means for operatively connecting said gear with said engine shaft, cranking means operatively connected to said sprocket gear, comprising a spring actuated power shaft, a sprocket gear rotatably mounted upon said power shaft and operatively connected to the aforesaid gear, and a member adapted to be brought into operative engagement with the sprocket and operated in one direction by the spring actuated power shaft to crank the engine, in combination with means adapted to operatively connect said member with the sprocket gear on the power shaft,fand actuated by the latter after the engine has been cranked to rotate said member in the other direction to store up energy in the power shaft. 15. In a startingapparatus for explosive engines, an engine shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said shaft, means for operatively connecting said gear with said engine shaft, cranking means operatively connected tosaid sprocket gear, comprising a spring actuated power shaft, a sprocket gear rotatably mounted upon said power shaft, and a member adapted to be brought into operative engagement with the sprocket gear and operate in one direction by the spring actuated power shaft to crank the engine, and means for automatically disengaging the member from the sprocket gear, in combination with means operated by the sprocket gear on the power shaft and connected to said member for rotating the latter in the opposite direction to store up energy in the power spring, and means for operatively connecting the first mentioned gear with and disconnectmg the same from the engine shaft respectively at the beginning of the cranking operation and after energy has been restored in the spring.

16. I11 a starting apparatus for explosive engines, an engine shaft, a sprocket gear mounted upon and adapted to be operatively connected to said shaft, cranking means operatively connected to said fixed gear, compris- I ing a spring actuated power shaft, a sprocket gear rotatably mounted upon said power a shaft and operatively connected to the aforesaid gear, a clutch member fixed to saidshaft but longitudinally movable thereon, rotatable means on said shaft normally in interlocking engagement with said clutch member, means for normally holding the aforesaid means against rotation, and means for moving the clutch member out of interlocking engagement With said rotatable means intoclutching engagement with the sprocket gear on the power shaft, whereby said gear is actuated by the power means to rotate the sprocket gears to crank the engine, in combination with means to store up energy in the spring, comprising a toothed gear rotatably mounted adjacent to the power shaft and actuated by the sprocket gear on the last mentioned shaft, and means operatively connecting the toothed gear with the holding mechanism and actuated by the toothed gear to rotate the holding mechanism and a clutch member in the opposite direction to store up energy in the power spring.

17 In a starting apparatus for explosive engines, an engine shaft, means for operatively connecting said gear with said engine shaft, a sprocket gear rotatably mounted adjacent and operatively connected to the aforesaid sprocket gear, a spring actuated power means adapted to engage with said second mentioned sprocket gear and actuated in one direction to rotate the same to crank the engine, and means connecting the second mentioned sprocket gear to the power means and operated by said sprocket gear after the engine has been cranked for actuating the power means 1n the opposite d1: rection to restore energy 1n the power means,

said connecting means normally serving to hold the spring actuated means against rotation.

18. In a starting apparatus for explosive engines, an engine shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said shaft, means for operatively connectingsaid gear with said engine shaft, a second sprocket gear rotatably mounted adjacent and operatively connected to the first mentioned gear, in combination with spring actuated means for engaging with the secondmentioned sprocket gear and rotated in one direction to crank the engine, and means actuated by the engine after the same has been cranked to restoreenergy in the power spring, comprising mechanism connected to the second mentioned sprocket gear and engaging the spring actuated means to rotate the same in the opposite direction, said mechanism adapted to hold the spring actuated means normally stationary against the tension of the power spring.

19. In a starting apparatus for explosive engines, an engine shaft, a sprocket gear loosely mounted upon said shaft,'means for operatively connecting said gear to said engine shaft, a second sprocket gear rotatably loosely mounted upon said shaft, means for operatively connecting said gear to said engine shaft, a second sprocket gear rotatably mounted adjacent and operatively connected to the aforesaid sprocket gear, spring actuated means adapted to operatively engage with the second mentioned sprocket gear and adapted to be rotated in one direction to crank the engine, in combination with mechanism operated by the sprocket gear after the engine has been cranked to rotate the "spring actuated means in the opposite direction to restore energy in the power shaft, said restoring mechanism normally engaging with the spring actuated means to hold the same stationary against the tension of the power spring.

21. In a starting apparatus for explosive engines, an engine shaft, a sprocket gear mounted thereon and adapted to be operatively connected thereto,'a power shaft located adjacent to said engine shaft, a counter shaft located in proximity to the power shaft, a sprocket gear rotatably mounted j upon the power shaft and operatively connected to the sprocket gear 'on the engine shaft, a toothed gear fixed upon the counter shaft and operatively connected to the sprocket gear, spring actuated means adapted to engage with the sprocket gear on the power shaft and to be rotated in one direction to crank the engine, and mechanism adapted to engage with the spring actuated means and operated by the toothed gear to rotate the spring actuated means in the other direction to restore energy in the power shaft.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE S. THOMPSON. CHARLES I RICHARDSON,

Witnesses for Thompson: WM. BOHLEBER, JOHN B. MCGUIRE.

, Vitnesses for Richardson:

RoY J SOULER, Lnsrnn B. BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

